World War II Honoree

Paul V. Clifford

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Flora, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

AS AN ENLISTED MAN, GRADUATED FROM THE FLEXIBLE GUNNERY SCHOOL AND ATTENDED COLLEGE PREPARATORY PRE-FLIGHT TRAINING AS AN AVIATION CADET CANDIDATE. ACCEPTED A COMMISSION AS A SECOND LIEUTENANT ON 29 APRIL 1944 TO ATTEND BOMBARDIER AND DEAD RECKONING NAVIGATION SCHOOL. DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON 23 AUGUST 1944 BOUND FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. FLEW COMBAT MISSIONS WITH THE 15TH AIR FORCE’S, 460TH BOMB GROUP, 760TH BOMB SQUADRON EQUIPPED WITH B-24 LIBERATOR AIRCRAFT AND BASED AT SPINAZZOLIA, ITALY THROUGH THE FOLLOWING CAMPAIGNS: AIR COMBAT BALKANS, ROME-ARNO, NORTHERN APENNINES, PO VALLEY, NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE. EARNED THE SILVER STAR MEDAL, THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER, THE AIR MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 ONE SILVER AND 2 BRONZE BATTLE STARS AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY SEPARATED FROM ACTIVE DUTY AS A CAPTAIN ON 27 SEPTEMBER 1945 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, FORT SHERIDAN, ILLINOIS.